Why should we have guests over if I don’t even remember you?
“Hello, Mary!”
“Hi there!” replied Mary, surprised. The number was unknown, and the voice was unfamiliar, but they called her by name.
“It’s Aunt Elizabeth, Andrew’s aunt from Cornwall. We couldn’t make it to your wedding, but now that we’re free, we thought we’d come to visit and meet the new relatives.”
Mary was caught off guard. She had no idea Andrew had an aunt in Cornwall. It had been more than a year since the wedding, and Andrew had never mentioned a missing aunt.
“You must have dialed the wrong number.”
“Are you Mary?”
“Yes, but I’ve never heard that Andrew has an aunt in Cornwall.”
“Andrew Nickson is your husband, right?”
“Yes, he’s my husband.”
“Well, I’m his aunt.”
“Nice to know you’re his aunt, but there’s no need to visit us.”
“Why not?”
“We’re not working and not accepting guests.”
“How welcoming… I didn’t expect this.”
“Sorry, I really can’t talk.”
At that, Mary ended the call. She wasn’t someone who backed down easily and always stood her ground.
“Unwanted guests are just what we need… I’ll ask Andrew about this aunt from Cornwall when I get home,” she decided, turning back to her tasks.
That evening, her mother-in-law called.
“Hello, Mary! It’s been a while.”
“Hello, Irene! I’ll visit tomorrow and bring you some groceries and vitamins.”
“Thank you, Mary. We have everything; we just miss you. Did Elizabeth call you?”
“Yes, a woman called, said she’s Andrew’s aunt, and wants to visit. I told her we couldn’t host guests now.”
“She just called me, too, claiming you were rude.”
“Irene, would I ever be rude? You know me.”
“Exactly, that’s why I found it odd,” said her mother-in-law, with a hint of irony.
“I’m driving now, so let’s chat tomorrow.”
Mary and her mother-in-law hadn’t had the easiest start.
Andrew had grown up in a military family. His father, David, was a strict man who instilled discipline. Andrew behaved impeccably in his presence, but his father was often away on assignments and deployments.
When his father was absent, Andrew was rather uncontrollable. His mother’s constant supervision irked him. The more she tried to oversee him, the more rebellious he became—skipping school and missing sports practices. His mother seldom reported his misbehavior to his father, knowing the punishment would be severe; she felt protective of her son.
As an adult, Andrew remained under his mother’s watch. She called him multiple times a day and would sometimes “randomly” bump into him after work.
With Andrew nearing thirty, and all his friends married, his mother worried her charming, intelligent son would remain a bachelor. She took it upon herself to find him a bride among the daughters of her friends, but these attempts only amused Andrew. Despite his attractiveness, women weren’t queuing up for him.
Then came the day he’d been waiting for. He announced he’d introduce his parents to his fiancée over the weekend.
While his father approved of his choice, his mother took an immediate dislike. Irene was used to making all the decisions in the family, with the men falling in line.
From Mary’s demeanor, she realized she wouldn’t be able to control her daughter-in-law. Watching her son treat Mary with so much love and care, Irene started to see a rival in her.
Mary was self-assured and didn’t need her mother-in-law’s advice. In any dispute, Andrew sided with his wife.
They lived in a flat Andrew had bought with his parents’ help before the wedding. Initially, Irene would pop by unannounced, but Mary spoke firmly.
“Please don’t come over unannounced or in our absence, or we’ll have to take away your key or change the locks.”
“This flat is partly ours, too. We helped Andrew buy it, so I have the right to visit anytime.”
“For what purpose, though? What do you need to do here?”
Caught off guard, Irene hesitated. It seemed silly to admit she was there to check on the place. Mary continued,
“I’m now mistress of this flat as your son’s wife and would like my conditions respected. Your key is for emergencies, not for visiting at any time.”
“I’m his mother—we raised him and provided everything. You came into this ready-made home…”
Mary interrupted, “Thank you for raising him! But my husband brought me into this home, and as his wife, I am its mistress. I won’t agree to different conditions.”
Andrew supported his wife, and though his mother was offended, the young couple paid little attention. After stewing for a couple of weeks, she reluctantly accepted.
She no longer used her key to enter unannounced, calling ahead before visits and was always welcomed warmly by Mary, who would offer tea or wine.
Initially, Irene would point out untidy spots, but Mary took it well, often joking or suggesting she could help.
“Sorry, I’ve been swamped with work. If it’s uncomfortable, feel free to tidy up while I relax.”
“There’s nothing prepared here. What’s your meal plan?”
“The fridge is stocked. Whoever gets hungry first cooks. Help yourself.”
Over time, Irene’s attitude warmed, and she and Mary became friends, leading to more frequent visits where gifts were shared. Mary and Andrew would often pop by for dinner, bringing groceries for her. With her husband retired but still working, Irene treasured the attention.
“What should I bring you, Irene? I’ve got the car, so there’s no need for you to haul heavy bags.”
During this particular visit, Mary had dinner with Irene. She sent some homemade meals for Andrew, sparing Mary from cooking at home. Inevitably, the conversation turned to Aunt Elizabeth.
“What did Aunt Elizabeth say?”
“She wanted to visit. I said we aren’t up for guests.”
“Good call. How did she get your number?”
“No idea.”
“She called me again. She’s a cousin of mine. We hardly talk. She’s had her share of life’s struggles—divorced once, and her second marriage wasn’t great. Now she’s settled in Cornwall, seems like she remarried. They’ve got a house, garden, and some livestock. Her daughter’s set on attending university in London.”
“That’s hardly our concern.”
“She wants to meet, says she’s worried about her daughter having someone looking out for her.”
“Sounds like she wants to move her daughter in with us.”
“It’s hard not to lend a hand to family.”
“Why’s it hard? When did you last speak with them? Andrew doesn’t even remember them. Do you have their address?” Mary continued without waiting for an answer. “Let’s not create unnecessary problems. I’ve never heard of these relatives.”
After saying goodbye to her mother-in-law, Mary relayed the call details to Andrew, who was nonchalant about it, and the incident slipped their minds.
A week later, on a Saturday without plans, Mary and Andrew just wanted to sleep in and relax. Around midday, the doorbell rang.
Mary was in the kitchen and didn’t want to leave her task.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No! Can you get it? My hands are full.”
“But why bother if we aren’t expecting anyone?” Andrew grumbled as he opened the door.
Standing outside were three people. Andrew deduced it must be Aunt Elizabeth and her family, not immediately recognizing her since he last saw her as a child.
“You weren’t expecting us, but here we are,” she declared, bringing in luggage as a man went back for more.
“Yes, indeed, we weren’t expecting anyone,” Mary said, resigned. She glanced at her husband, then begrudgingly invited the guests inside.
“Well, come on in then,” she said with a hint of irony. “I gather you’re Aunt Elizabeth.”
“Yes, Elizabeth Anderson, this is my daughter, Sarah, and my husband, Archie. Don’t worry; we won’t be long.”
Mary let them freshen up and invited them to the table, mentioning that visiting without an invitation was a bit impolite.
“Being unexpected, we haven’t prepared anything specific, so please help yourselves to anything in the fridge.”
“Don’t worry, we brought plenty. Homegrown and handmade.”
Aunt Elizabeth busied herself unpacking the bags, revealing an array of cheeses, cured meats, honey, jams, and dried fruits.
“Such a bounty! It’s far too much for us to consume.”
“Share some with your parents. This is homemade and all-natural. The jams and pickles can sit out.”
Andrew discreetly called his parents, who were already en route. Aunt Elizabeth then explained,
“This isn’t just a family visit. Sarah finishes school soon and aims to attend university in London. We wanted her to meet her relatives—life can be unpredictable, and it’s good to have a connection. She’ll stay in the student accommodation, she’s a good girl, very bright.”
As time passed, the awkwardness dissipated. Elizabeth Anderson was charming, and Andrew got along well with her husband. Soon, Andrew’s parents arrived.
The gathering turned joyful. Elizabeth’s homemade treats, the smoked cheeses, and meats were a hit.
What began as an unexpected visit became a warm family reunion. Stories of family, old memories, and mutual acquaintances were exchanged. Elizabeth nostalgically recalled her childhood home.
“I’d like to visit my old village; it’s been so long. I bet everyone’s moved to the city.”
Irene offered them a place to stay, suggesting they stay with her, as it might be cramped at Andrew’s. It was settled that Sarah would stay with Mary and Andrew for the night, while Aunt Elizabeth and Archie would head to Irene’s. On Sunday, Mary and Andrew took Sarah to see the sights of Westminster, the Bridge of London, and Greenwich Park.
Monday morning, Aunt Elizabeth and her husband picked up Sarah. Mary and Andrew bid them farewell and headed to work, beginning their week.
That evening, Mary and Andrew reflected on their unexpected visitors. It seemed odd they stayed with them instead of Irene.
“They’re lovely people; I’m glad we met. Why did you lose touch for so long?”
“Not sure, probably something with mom. I was still in primary school the last time they visited.”
“They invited us over. Maybe we could go in summer. Drive down to the coast, and stop by theirs for a few days. We can bring Sarah back to London. I’m sure she’ll get into university.”
Sarah indeed got accepted and stayed with Mary and Andrew briefly before moving into her accommodation. Occasionally, she would drop by to visit. Mary and Andrew planned a trip to the coast, but it was postponed due to an expected addition to their family.
